Crop Nutrition

Programme

• Registration/refreshments 
• Welcome and introduction: Judith Stafford – AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Knowledge Exchange Manager 
• Vale of Belvoir Monitor Farm update: James & Michael Parker – AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Monitor Farmers
  • How the crops are looking
  • Any changes to plans
  • Autumn drilling
• Setting the scene – Crop nutrition at Vale of Belvoir Monitor Farm: James & Michael Parker
  • Previous crop nutrition programme(s)
  • How and why the current programme is under review
  • Cost considerations
  • Products
• Crop nutrition: Ian Robertson, Sustainable Soil Management
  • Review of crop nutrient requirements
    
    • Main nutrients for combinable crops
    • Trace elements
    • pH effects and lime requirements
    • Types of lime
    • Nutrient interactions and lock-up
    • Soil properties
    • Fertilisers – types and properties
    • Organic matter and sources
• Soil and tissue testing
  
  • Sampling methods
  • Timing
  • Interpretation of results
  • Problem solving
  • Use of technology
• Nutrition programme at Vale of Belvoir Monitor Farm
  
  • Review results of soil testing
  • Interpreting data
  • Recommendations based on results
  • Winter vs. spring cropping
  • Programme for 2019 crops
• Remaining questions and discussion
• Summary of main points and take home messages
• Opportunity for any further questions
• Meeting close

About Vale of Belvoir Monitor Farm

Father and son team James and Michael Parker farm at Sherwood Farms in the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire. Their soil ranges from heavy clay to clay and sandy loam. James and Michael’s 560 ha increasingly flexible arable rotation includes winter wheat, winter oilseed rape, winter barley, spring barley, winter beans, winter triticale and spring linseed. Sherwood Farms is also home to 72,000 laying chickens, a mixture of free range and colony. The eggs are packed and sold onsite. Both James and Michael want to increase the efficiency of their business and to produce crops as economically as possible. They are looking forward to comparing their business with other farmers facing similar challenges, identifying where improvements can be made.

Find out more by visiting the Vale of Belvoir Monitor Farm page

About Monitor Farms

AHDB Monitor Farms bring together groups of like-minded farmers who wish to improve their businesses by sharing performance information and best practice around a nationwide network of host farms.

AHDB organises and facilitates Monitor Farm meetings for farmers, who own and operate the scheme – by farmers, for farmers.

Monitor Farms are part of the AHDB Farm Excellence Programme. Each Monitor Farm project runs for three years.